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Hoylake RNLI in action after red flare sighting off New Brighton coast
3 years ago

Hoylake RNLI were in action last night after a search was launched following a red flare sighting off New Brighton coast
Hoylake RNLI lifeboat was requested to launch by the UK Coastguard at 9.55pm on Sunday 28 February when a River Mersey pilot vessel reported seeing a red flare off New Brighton.
Red flares, either fired as a rocket or held in the hand, are widely used as a maritime distress signal.
Hoylake’s all-weather Shannon class lifeboat Edmund Hawthorn Micklewood and her volunteer crew launched and immediately began following a search pattern along the north Wirral coast heading towards New Brighton. The RNLI crew used the lifeboat’s radar and searchlights to look for any potential vessels or people in distress, while local Coastguard Rescue Teams searched along the shoreline.
When Hoylake RNLI lifeboat completed the first leg of its search, the crew liaised with the pilot vessel that had reported the flare to establish any further information about the potential casualty. The lifeboat then headed back to the west, expanding the search further out into Leasowe Bay.

Hoylake RNLI’s Shannon class lifeboat was requested to launch at 9.55pm on Sunday 28 February
Hoylake RNLI lifeboat was stood down and returned to station to be washed down, refuelled and made ready for service again by the volunteer lifeboat and shore crews just after 2.00am.

Hoylake RNLI lifeboat followed a search pattern along the north Wirral coast out into Leasowe Bay
Hoylake RNLI Coxswain Andy Dodd said:
“Our volunteer lifeboat crew carried out an extensive search at sea last night based on the initial reports of the flare sighting. The search was helped by the calm sea conditions and a full moon.”